So on Saturday we had our February Mini Meet.  This is a meet that only has kids from the coach's team.  Trophy's/ribbons/medals are awarded for everything, but the wins don't count to move up.  Its meant to be a training experience for the new kids and moms.

The kids each got to introduce one new routine.  KK her flag routine.  SAm his rifle routine.  And Zeria, Jamari and Rainee there show twirls.

Show twirls are where you get to pick your OWN music, and are much more interactive and fun.  You've read my vents about picking music for them.  LOL.

Anyhow here we have 

Zeria in her Scooby Doo outfit.

Jamari in his If I were a rich man costume.  I did all of it.  And yeah his tastle is hanging down a bit in that picture.  I fixed it shortly thereafter, but of course don't have a decent picture.

And Rainee practicing her Lollipop costume.  And yes she does part of her routine with a GIANT lollipop. 

Jeremiah entered his first Presentation, and basic and military march.  And got first TWICE in his age group.  He was soooooooooooooooo SERIOUS about it all.

The first time he did his Presentation he didn't do so hot.  He was nervous, and couldn't remember, and kind of panicked.  The second time he did it all AND caught his toss.  His coach is so excited about coaching him.

Zeria hit herself in the eye on her two-spin on her solo.  She was sporting a swollen eye for the rest of the meet, and had to do quite a bit so shake it off so she could compete for the rest of the meet.

Samuel did well on his rifle routine, although he did forget how some of it went, but he didn't let the judge know, he just kept twirling.  And I have NO pictures of him...except that one of him in the way background.  The meet went soooooo fast I just didn't score one of him.

I gotta get one of him posing with his twirling rifle.  Another day, another picture.  LOL

Trumpeter Swan, serene on top, paddling like mad under the surface.  Yup I fit that description.

Yesterday was rather...long.

In the morning Rob drove into H&R to do our taxes.  He was hoping he didn't need me to do them, but they've changed policys, and he did.  And *argh*  So the money isn't on its way yet.  He was also hoping to do the instant loan they used to do, but now its 2 days, and that woulda brought us to payday anyhow, so I guess we're just gonna continue praying that the outstanding check stays that way until payday.  We honestly were careful in Seattle with the exception of the bookstore.  But the bookstore would have been fine if it hadn't been for the extra night in the motel, and extra days food.  *sigh*

Zeria had to bike to the school for a pep ralley.  A friend was supposed to meet her at the front of the school and take her there.  She left too early, and spent an hour waiting for the friend to come get her.  The friend thought she was going to meet her at the office.  And Zeria was too scared to go into the office and ask.  So she stood outside and FROZE.  And finally biked up to the gas station and asked to use the phone.  She was so sad.  *sigh*  By this time Rob was home, so I ran down and got her.  She waited so long she only had about 20 minutes until basketball practice.  So we went and sat and watched the birds and waves at Breakwater, and I comforted her a bit over the whole disaster. 

When we got to practice we met the friend almost immediately.  She was very apologetic.  And one of the ladies in the office assured Zeria she could have come inside, that they don't bite...they used to but they were cured of it. 

I understand why Zeria was nervous.  She homeschools.  She's comfy with the gyms, because she's been going there since third grade.  But she's never been inside the main classrooms.  I guess its time for me to walk her in there, and introduce her to the ladies there, so she knows where to find a phone in case something stupid like this happens again.

After walking Zeria to the gym--normally she walks herself, but she was still a wee bit upset about missing the pep ralley, I headed home.   Rainee was hungry.  So her and daddy made Jam sugar cookies.  It solved the hungry and the boredom.

I've had a mildly crampy stomache for over a week now, so I enjoyed the few precious minutes of nobody needing anything.  It was the best ten minutes of the day.

Rob decided to take the kiddos down to the river at 4:30.  I thought cool, another fifteen of quiet.  Ha!  Almost immediately after that I get a call from the assistant coach to say practice got over early.  *sigh*

On the way to gym I realize my dads called twice.  More sighs.  I *HATE* being on the phone with him.  I chose to call him on the way to the gym so I could get off quickly.  He pulled the guilt card..about not being able to see us this weekend.

Does he GET what we went through this week?????  And how the heck is it my fault that his probation counselor didn't return my call????

*growl*

I get Zeria, she's waiting in the parking lot for me with the coach.  Everybody else is up at the highschool game.   We head home to eat. 

It was a loverly day.  I'm sure.  I'm just so stressed, and rather tired of the crampy feeling as well.

Breakfast Blueberry waffles and syrup.
Lunch;  Ramen
Dinner;  Hamburgers with ketchup and mayo
Snack;  Sugar cookies with Jam
Late night snack.  Chicken Ramen with sausage.
Did awesome during the day time.  One asthma run at night, and one return visit with what looked like stinging nettle blisters on her hand.

Its been a long couple days.  We are soooo tired.

We headed to Seattle for Rainee's pulmo appointment Tuesday morning.  We had to leave Zeria in CB due to her playing basketball.  She stayed at a friends house, who was very kind to play chauffeur for her. 

We arrived in Seattle with time to spare, where we had a nice time hanging at the Village, and exploring Barnes and Nobles.  It probably wasn't wise doing Barnes and Nobles, but we had fun, so *shrugs* 

The appointment was at 2:20, we didn't see the pulmo until 3:30--but Rainee had to do the lung function test first, so that was fine.  She blew in the machine, all the required times, the respitory therapist gave me some tips to help Rainee use the spacer, instead of the mask and spacer.  Her numbers are exactly the same as last time--so at least she's staying stable.  But stable means her small airways are STILL at 60%

Got to see the pulmo.  Doctor Margaret Rosenfeld, whom we've been seeing since Rainee was 3 months old.  She is a marvelous doctor, very down to earth.  We discussed Rainee's issues--with the numbers confirming what we as parents knew.  Neither of the two new meds were working.  Period. 

So, we switching back to Flovent 110, and adding oral steroids every other day.  We have to find this kiddo and her parents some relief.  She has her sleep study coming up in May, and maybe that will reveal another piece to the puzzle, or we can put that issue to bed for good.  Pun intended. 

Dr. Rosenfeld said she also wanted to do a C/t scan of Rainee's lungs to get a 3/d picture of them to see if deeper in her lungs then they could get with the bronchostopy if there was anything else wrong.

This meant a trip back to the hospital another day. *argh*  But she pulled strings and enabled us to do it Thursday.  We could have actually done it Wednesday, but we had to be at baton.  And if we cancelled baton we'd just have to make it up later, so the options were best to do it the way we did.

I insisted on blood tests for allergys to rule that out.   The lab tech was marvelous and we were in and out of there PRONTO. 

So we left the doctors and drove to Olympia, stopping in Federal Way to eat dinner at Old Country Buffet.  Rainee had one of her SEVERE attacks after that between Federal Way and Olympia.  She had eaten one piece of pizza, peaches, and strawberry shortcake.  Again tomato is a mystery ingredient.  Or something in it...or who knows.  Maybe it was just the end of a very very very very very long day.

Wednesday was baton.  It went well.  Rainee had two mild asthma attacks at practice.  She had orange juice, and peaches for breakfast.  She ate a LOT of fruit on Wednesday--in the little carry-as-you-go containers.  A LOT.  LOL  She also had a peanut/candy bar (the kind you get from Costco) and microwave popcorn.

After baton was over we headed back to Seattle, and another motel.  We had wheat thins, and kielbasa for dinner which I'd brought with us.  She got kinda cranky and tired at bedtime, and we were officially out of the food we'd brought with us, as we were supposed to be home by 7 Wednesday.  So I rubbed Rainee's hair while she laid down, and Rob ran to QFC to get some more stuff.  Rainee was asleep before he got back.   About 8:30 I guess.

Thursday we got up super duper early.  Rainee ate orange juice, and peaches.  Crazy diet LOL.  We did the c/t scan.  It went super duper fast.  We were out of the hospital and heading home by 8:17 am. 

The drive home we had nachos and refried beans for lunch, along with grapes, and chocolate marshmallow cookies.  Rainee also ate a few more peaches.  I tried an experiment, and gave Rainee dramine after lunch.  It didn't cook in fast, but eventually did.  I probably won't due it often, but it sure made the drive home easier.  A second bonus was Jamari and Samuel slept from after the ferry until we got home.  It made a much more peaceful drive!!!!

Last night we had cornish game hens and rice.  Super duper nummy.  Rainee only ate the rice.  Ornrey coot.  For evening snack she had kielbasa's, and then tunafish and pickel.  We rescued her at 7:45, and 8:15.  At 8:30 she came out complaing/screaming of a sore throat.  I broke down and gave her cough and cold.  And she went to sleep about 9:30.  It was a good thing.  LOL

Today Rob has headed to town to do our taxes.  In the past he hasn't needed me.  Growl today they insisted on having me, so we couldn't get them all done.  *sigh*

We are sooooo BROKE.  And we have a rather large check that hasn't cleared.  At this point we're praying it doesn't until payday (wednesday)  Prayers are welcome in that department. 

This morning after Rob headed to town the pulmo called with the results.  The c/t scan came back clean.  And the blood work for allergies, also clean.  So she has NO allergys according to the blood work.

So now we're back to absolutely no rhyme or reason for why she feels so crappy.

Breakfast; Apple fritters (homemade)
                  Lunch Bacon Cheeze buns (made by Rainee)

Gee whiz after lunch was a royal pain in the buttox!!! 

I took a brief nap which was woke up by Samuel fighting over the telephone with Jamari.  It was a loverly to wake up.  (NOT).  It was my sister calling to tell Jamari happy birthday.  I talked to her for a few minutes, which I enjoyed as I don't get to talk to her often.

I went out to the living room to wake up and space a bit.

hahahahaha.

Zeria started yelling in the kitchen  "Samuel, stooop"  In a more desperate voice then normal.

And then thunk.

And then Jeremiah crying.  So Zeria was piggy backing Jeremiah and Samuel tried to pull him off.  And when Zeria yelled stop he did...rather abruptly, which resulted in a very bad gooseegg slightly left of Jeremiah's eye.  He will more then likely have a black eye in the morning.

When I announced the black eye thing he cried even harder.

At this point I did what every completely exasperated woman does..I called Rob.  Who commiserated with me for a few minutes while listening to Jeremiah sob in the background.

I eventually got Jeremiah calmed down, just in time to have another set-to with Samuel. 

And by this time it was time to take Zeria to bball.  Its only a mile away.  So often I leave the kids in front of the tv with Sam "in charge".   It wasn't as you may guess happening today.  So we loaded everybody up.  I was about 30 seconds behind them and when I got to the car ANOTHER child was having a set-to with Samuel.

He wasn't having a good day.  LOL  And got in rather large trouble at that point.

Got Zeria to practice told her goodbye until Wednesday night.  She will be staying at a friends house while we head to Seattle in the morning.  I came back home, and think oh good I can drink my tea in peace.  Except I had too more rounds with Samuel and one with Jamari.  Jamari's was more my fault then his...he just had bad timing.

Sam has run a LOT of laps today.  

At 4:00 I finally got a few minutes of calm, and by 5 the day started looking a bit more up.

Rainee had a burrito for dinner...the bread we made today is packed in the car for tomorrow.  LOL  I'm so glad she has showed no reaction to burritoes yet...cause she loves them, and its a good quick dinner.

For evening snack she had tunafish/pickle, cheeze and crackers.  So far she's doing quite well.  I will update that if it changes.

Anybody want an 11 year old.

Well...she came out at 7:15 and got Fishy crackers, and at 7:30 with hives and asthma, and crying because she said she was hungry.   After multiple offers of food, we settled on a small piece of Kielbasa.  Which did NOT give her asthma.  I'm so confused.  And she was down for the night.

Breakfast; bacon mushroom egg burrito
Lunch;  Beef/chicken Ramen
Dinner;  Chicken Ramen. (she was in a rut)  Sunday night is fend for yourself night.
Snack; Tunafish pickel mayo and crackers.

Asthma;   Rescued at 4:45 had some to do with not wanting to clean...doubt it was food related.
               Rescued at 7:45.  Suspect boredom rather then needing a rescue.

It was Jamari's birthday today and action packed.

We woke up and gave him pressys, and daddy made blueberry waffles for breaky.  They were NUMMY!

We then headed to Neah Bay where we snacked on Jelly Belly's and Doritoes, and toured the Neah Bay museum, and watched some amazing waves crash.  I'm gonna share pictures of that tomorrow, plus a video.

For a very late lunch we had homemade hamburgers with onion soup mix in them.  Rainee had bbq sauce, ketchup and mayo on hers.  She was fine all afternoon.

For dinner we had homemade pizza, with mushrooms, pizza sauce, cheddar cheeze and bacon.  For desert we had homemade chocolate cake with snickers bars in it, and peanutbutter in the frosting--daddy was in a creative mood.  LOL

At bedtime Rainee's pft was only 100.  I suspect the pizza sauce, due to knowing she's allergic to salsa.

She ate a bowl of marshmallow maties for a bedtime snack, and within five minutes was in bad distress, and breaking out in hives.  We spent from 7:15 until 9;45 getting her under control.  The only good news in this story is the marshmallow maties are ALL gone, and can't be eaten again.   And she came to us before she was hyperventaling, so no hysteria to go with the asthma.

We rescued her with both albuterol and atrovent at 7:15, and did a second dose of albuterol at 7:30.  At 8:15 we gave her benadryl.  She just snuggled with us on our bed and watched tv.  At 8:45 we talked her into getting into the tub hoping it would distract her, and help the itches.  She came out at 9 still miserable, and stayed with until she announced about 9:30 or 9:45 that she was "ok".

She's in her room chatting quietly with her sisters, and I suspect going to fall asleep sometime soon. 

On other news we watched Up as a family tonight.  VERY VERY funny, and quite cute. 

Had a good day today, it was quite warm outside, so we ended up playing outside quite a bit of it.  Headed to the river in the morning, and the kids started building a fort which  they did NOT want to leave.  CB had a early release day today, so Zeria had a early practice.  At 12:15 we took her to the gym, and the rest of us headed to the beach.

Except there was an extreme high tide.  EXTREME.  LOL  We were walking across the very beginning of it on dry sand, and the wave got  big, so I climbed up on a two foot off the ground log to protect myself...it had been dry there it was safe.

Snort I got wet up to my waist...

And shortly thereafter Rainee scared the crap out of all of us by being way way up high on a log, when three rogue waves got very close to getting her.  In between the second and third Rob bailed down of the bank he was standing on grabbed Rainee threw her up the bank, and then jumped up behind her.  And I mean THREW her.

She needless to say was screaming like a banshee.  It didn't help me any that I'd had a nightmare about tsnumani's last night.

For breakfast Rainee had Marshmallow Maties, as we *thought* Rob was headed into town, and didn't have time to do breakfast.    She did great all morning, but we were outside, and she usually does better then.  

After the wave incident we rescued Rainee due to asthma from screaming...which is rather understandable.  It was SCAREY.  We weren't on the ocean, just the strait, and the waves just don't act like those waves did.   LOL

When we got home we had a late lunch of bologna sandwiches, and then headed back to the river.  But Rainee started melting down.  She was the one that wanted to go the most to the river, and suddenly she was exhausted, and with asthma.  So we had to do atrovent since we'd done albuterol less then 45 minutes earlier for the wave incident.  It got her calm, and she had a blast at the river.

We had homemade mac & cheeze for dinner, which was delicious!

Its 9:00 at night, and there have been NO night rescues for Rainee.  *cheers*  I even think t here asleep, but I may be celebrating early.  If I do have to rescue her I'll add it to the blog.

I'm beginning to VERY much suspect bologna and hot dog meat.  The good news is its all gone, and there will be none until pay day.  LOL  And I may splurge and get some kind of lunch meat that is a wee more spendy just to test that theory.

*Yawn*
Its too early to be up...okay its not, but I don't want to be up.  I'm doing this as a running commentary of the day, and will hit submit to the public at night.

Rainee woke up rather whiny, but no asthma so far.  She *gasp* actually ate breakfast which is rather unusual, she doesn't like breakfast much LOL.  And this morning she ate 2 sausage egg burritoes. 

Zeria's bread didn't get ready for lunch, so we had burritoes for lunch.  The Mexican theme is getting old.  LOL  Rainee had one burrito, and some carrots & ranch dip for lunch.  She's done great so far this afternoon.

We had baton this afternoon missed 3 of my girls, but it was still fun.  Taught them some new gymnastics which they loved.  Bought the three kids at baton pop as a VERY special basically never happens treat.  Rainee chose Orange Soda, which I was nervous about due to her reactions to Red Dye.  I was right.   She has admitted it, and she learned a valuable lesson.  So we rescued her, and moved on.  There's some lessons its just easier for your children to learn yourself.

I made a FANTASTIC new Crockpot Recipe.  6 THUMBS up.

Morocaan Chicken
1 t cumin
1 t tumeric
1/2 t cinnamon
1/2 t salt
2 T lemon juice
1 choped fine onion
.1 cup raisins
and your chicken

Cook for 6 hours or so on low.  An hour before serving add Cauliflower and mix in with the chicken and spices.  Serve with couscous, although I'm sure rice would be just as good.

It was sooooooooooooo good!  Rainee ate the chicken, but not the couscous, well five little bitty bites of it.

I think Jeremiah is getting sick.  He's sleeping in my bed tonight--I guess I won't be lonely since Rob is sleeping in a computer chair at work.

Zeria was also complaining about head ache, stomache ache etc.  But she *just* start Junior High Basketball, and has been doing 2 hour practices everyday so I suspect her pain is her body protesting all the movement its been getting.  At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

So Rainee ate a piece of homemade bread with blackberry jam, and a bowl of Marshmallow maties without milk as a bedtime snack.  I know  (*Gag*).    About 30 minutes later she had a sandwich wrap with bologna and pickel in it.  About ten minutes after that sandwich she came out in severe distress.  I  had to give her albuterol and atrovent within five minutes of each other to get her under control.  She didn't desat which was GOOD.   So she recognized it and got it dealt with before she was too miserable.  I'm pondering bologna and hot dogs which she LOOOOVES.  I know there nasty, but I love them too LOL.  Ironically when we had ham she did just awesome.  But as Rob observed its way way more processed.  I'll keep writing things down, and watching it.    She's now asleep, and I get to go to bed and finish my book, and enjoy a few minutes of quiet.

I discussed with the ladies at baton that its the weepy/cranky time of the year.  We have had a beautiful January, but the short days just get to you after awhile.  We're all ready for spring. 

Gonna write this now while I'm thinking it, and add to it during the day.

Rainee woke up with asthma (not totally normal)  and was rescued before breakfast.  She's been fine the rest of the morning.  She had cold cereal for breakfast Marshmallow Maties--without milk.   And Tator Tots with Ketchup for lunch.

She's been playing the computer all morning due to my being gone which keeps her vary distracted, and much less aware of being miserable.

In the afternoon Rainee did quite well.  She was rescued once just before dinner time.  She hadn't had a snack, or any kind of food.

For dinner she ate ham and rice.  She loves rice.  The rice was lightly seasoned with chicken bullion.  She had a peaceful non-asthma drive to Awana--which is a major bonus.  We have definitely proven that she is allergic to something in salsa.  Every Awana night was a crisis night until I put that little piece of wisdom together. 

For after Awana snack she had Fishy crackers.  I rescued her *just* before the snack due to her falling down and twisting her ankle.  Crying ALWAYS gives her asthma, so that was definitely not food related.

We've only been home about five minutes, so there could still be more drama as we get settled in.  

Jamari had his own drama tonight and learned a very valuable lesson.  There is a little boy at Awana who is a BOOGER.  Major Major bully.  Just goes from tormenting one kid to tormenting another.  Three of my six kids got hit by him tonight.  Two know to avoid him...and for some reason Jeremiah lucked out.  As Zeria said if he picked on Jeremiah all of our claws would come out because Jeremiah's like 2 feet shorter then him LOL.

Anyhow before Awana started the kids were running around in the gym, and Booger Boy punched/beat on two of Jamari's friends.  Jamari was mad cause an adult didn't see it or intervene and decided to give BoogerBoy a big shove.  Both boys missed game time as a result, which consequence I agreed with.     It was handled poorly by the Director on several accounts, but she apologized to Jamari for that later, so all is good.  Jamari and I had a long long chat about what to do if BoogerBoy  becomes a issue.  And that is NOT to take matters into his own hands, but instead to find a leader or me Immediately.   All of the other kids have had the lesson reiterated and life moves on. 

**Update**
Rainee went to bed WITHOUT a rescue.  I cant' remember the last time that happened.  I'm rather in shock.

Rainee has been a full time gig today.

We had bannana muffins for breakfast--made from scratch by daddy with real butter on top.

She was rescued at 8;30 , and at 11.

At noon we had "super nachoes"  with cheddar cheeze, hamburger, refried beans, and sour cream--no salsa we were out.   She had one oatmeal granola bar.

The afternoon was a continuation of frustration.  At 2ish she came and cuddled with me--a sign that she's not doing well.  "Rainee do you have asthma?"  No, I'm fine.

"Does something hurt?"  No I'm just tired.  (Said in whispy voice)

I sit up and wrap her in my arms--my way of discretely testing her lungs.  She's breathing hard and fast.  I get the albuterol and rescue her.  As soon as it its in her system she's done snuggling and ready to play.  "Do you feel tired now?"  No.

"That's cause you had asthma."  OOOOh.  She says and moves on.  Asthma is such a part of her life it just doesn't phase her LOL

For dinner we had burritoes (not homemade)  What can I say we were in a Mexican mood today.

She asked about 5:30 if she could have bologna.  (We eat early)  I said yes...she ate the whole frickin' package over the next couple hours.   I did NOT say yes to that LOL.  

From then until 7:45 she did quite well.  Bed time was at 7.  At 7:45 she came out with asthma.  I rescued her and gave her maintenance puffer--cause I'd forgotten it. 

At 8:30 she came out with asthma again.  I rescued her again with albuterol.  (This  with in the amount the doctor told us she could have--but she's allowed no more abuterol until 12:30 at night.)   At 9:20 she came out again with asthma.  I gave her the atrovent--she's now used up all rescue meds until 12:30.  Her saturation rates were good most of the night.  With the exception of her last visit out which was still tolerable at 94.

She's not asleep yet, so the game may still be on.  Is it any wonder I'm exhausted?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I appreciate observations about what you think might work, but I also want you to know there's a lot of extenuating circumstances for reasons some suggestions may not work.  All suggestions and prayers are appreciated.